Torchy's Tacos to open Cedar Park location by early fall, developer says

Torchy's Tacos is expected to open its Cedar Park location by early fall—maybe even sooner, confirmed Tom Terkel, developer for the project.

Terkel opened the first Williamson County–based Torchy's Tacos on May 16 in Round Rock. The Cedar Park restaurant, slated to open at 1468 E. Whitestone Blvd. across from the 1890 Ranch shopping center, will be the Austin-based chain's 10th location.

The Cedar Park Torchy's Tacos, first announced by Community Impact Newspaper in May 2012, will be joined by PhoNatic Vietnamese Cuisine, which already has one location in Central Austin and another slated to open in far South Austin. Restaurant officials said previously that PhoNatic's Cedar Park location will open sometime in late 2013 to early 2014.

In addition, Terkel said Southern Charms Day Spa and Beauty Salon will join the retail center, which is positioned on a 4.8-acre tract in front of the Oakmont Business Park. Two more retail spots remain vacant, he said.

"It's unusual to be this far along on the marketing when we're just now completing construction," Terkel said. He said he may have one additional tenant unofficially signed and another close to committing.

Terkel also owns land immediately east of the property, an area he recently attempted to rezone from general office to commercial space. The request was postponed during a May meeting of the Cedar Park Planning & Zoning Commission so Terkel could address concerns from residents nearby regarding parking and traffic.

During the meeting, it was suggested multiple times that the site may soon be home to a new restaurant—an ideal use, Terkel said, although nothing is set in stone.

"We want to do the best we can to be a good neighbor," he said. "There are a lot of other uses, too, so we're looking at all options. First we've got to get through rezoning."